11. Ecology and management of GREY PARTRIDGE: distribution, ecological characteristics, and economic/hunting role

Question 1

Distribution and Introduced

Answer 1

D: Native to Hungary and, breeds in farmlands across most of Europe

I: Canada, US, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand.

Question 2

Status

Answer 2

Greatly Declined

Question 3

Habitat

Answer 3

Home range woody plains, forest belts, grassland, agricultural fields, extensively cultivated grounds

Nesting place: ridges, borderlands, side of ditches, side of channels, edge of forest, edge of arable field.

Question 4

Description

Answer 4

Description: Brown/orange head, grey, blue flanks and chest, brown speckled back, light belly. Horseshoe shaped patch on the belly (absent or smaller on females). Modest sexual dysmorphism.

Length: 28-32 cm.
Weight: 300-400 g.

Question 5

Diet

Answer 5

Diet: polyphagy, seasonally: insects, green vegetables, seeds
 Adults eat mostly plant foods
 Chicks eat insects in the first 3 weeks of life  animal protein provides better body size and feather development
 They are the most important consumers of weeds and insects

Question 6

Reproduction

Answer 6

Monogamous, lifelong.
 During the winter coveys disintegrate and birds fly to neighbouring coveys where couples will be formed
 After pairs are formed, couples occupy nesting areas
 Brood: 12-15 eggs. Incubation lasts 24 days and cocks guard the hens and nest.
 They have strong rearing instincts. Maturation occurs at 12-14 weeks, but they can fly from 3 weeks old
 Family stays together through winter, until next spring

Question 7

Behaviour

Answer 7

Flies with whirring wings and occasional glides, showing a chestnut tail. It is strictly a ground bird, never likely to be found in pear trees! Groups of 6-15 (known as coveys) are most usually seen outside the breeding season.

Question 8

Hunting

Answer 8

Wild population cannot be hunted, only released birds can be. It’s a popular game species

Game bird in Hungary, the hunting bag was 2428 in 2015.
*The hunting season: 1 October – 31 December
*It can be hunted with permission, where at least 500 birds were released and max. 40 % of the released amount!

Question 9

Management

Answer 9

During winter and spring supplementary feeding is needed

Population has declined under critical density (under 2 individuals/km2
- Habitat degradation: disappearance of edges and ditches, lack of insects for chicks and sensitivity to climate
- Insufficient habitat improvement
- Insufficient killing/control of predators
- Passive protection (ban of hunting) has failed
Management:
- Provide suitable habitat from beginning
- Provide adequate supply of high-quality nesting place
- Reduce chick mortality
- Reduce nest losses (predators)
- Use should not exceed optimal sustainable yield
- Supplementary feeding only in cases of unfavourable winter
- Release or repatriation is not recommended